My perspective from touring the facility: small playground in the back, inside is dark, not a lot…read moreof natural light, furniture is old, everything smells like old, 2yo kids have a separate area in what looks like the "lobby" of the building until they transition to the main area. Meals are prepared in the kitchen of the building, it was the end of the day so dishes were piled up in the sink, cleanliness wasn't top notch. Owner didn't speak English very well so she didn't give me a lot of information. Price is better than other daycares. I can't speak of the way day to day goes but overall it didn't give me a very good impression.

We are truly thrilled to have our toddler at LPM. The founder and director, Ms. Gina, brings an…read moreunmatched level of care and dedication to the daycare. Several of the teachers have been with the school for over a decade, which speaks volumes about the strong and caring community they've built. I have also seen graduates of LPM who are now in high school and college visit the school or come back to volunteer. Ms. Gina even prepares home-cooked meals for the teachers every day - I've had the privilege of trying some, and she's an amazing cook! It's clear that she not only values her staff but goes above and beyond to care for them. The entire team, from classroom teachers to volunteers, are incredibly kind, nurturing, and truly invested in the children's well-being. While LPM doesn't rely on flashy marketing, my husband and I appreciate that this allows all the attention to be focused on providing quality care to the children. As I try to speak Korean to my child at home, I am especially grateful for the cultural sensitivity at LPM - Ms. Gina, Ms. Ellie, and at least one other staff member speak fluent Korean and honor Korean culture, which makes us feel right at home. If you're looking for a daycare that is a caring community and prioritizes heartfelt care for each child, LPM is the place to be.

I want to start off saying my oldest has been going to "Kindercare " since he was a baby I moved to…read moreElgin and moved him to this one about two years ago .. At first I loved it my sons enjoyed going . You entered the building it was very welcoming, teachers looked like they loved being there . now my two sons were attending that I removed from this center due to cleanliness, Short staffed , curriculum not being done , they no longer where learning and this center is "NAEYC" so very disappointed! there were just playing all day . Breakfast/Lunch food still left on the floor or table past nap time Bathrooms with pee on them not being clean properly. My son started crying saying he doesn't want to go to school , voicing to me that he was scared . Started not to go in , giving me a harder time then he usual , It was no longer doing any good for my kids. Overall I was disappointed :( it was a good daycare at the beginning They are now an a different center (not Kindercare ) and both of them are expanding there vocabulary, learning a lot of new things . Meeting new friends , they have a routine there loving it. & they are no longer scared. Now all of us are much happier :)

My daughter has been going since she was 8 months old and now is almost 16 months! I will say they…read morehave the BEST STAFF EVER! I was extremely worried about placing her in daycare. I was a SAHM for 8 months before I started working. I will say this is a GREAT choice! Not only is the director a mom but also amazing and my daughter LOVES everyone there! Of course she has got bit once but that's kids at that age! It happens! Once or twice in there life time! If you are looking for a caring program with great teachers and a parent to teacher relationship this is the center! I still call once a day to check on my daughter and they go in the room and see how she is doing right then and the director emails me back right away! We couldn't have chose a better place to place my daughter! The toddler teachers are amazing and so creative as well! My daughter is learning so much and they are always doing activities to expend her mind! Def go in for a tour! -Allison

Our son (4 years old) attended here for about a year. It was a mixed bag…read more It was affordable for the area. One of the teachers (Mrs. Nowack) was wonderful. She was on top of things. She was friendly to parents and kids. She genuinely cared about her work. The other teacher (Mrs. Carrie) seemed to be going through the motions and she tended to characterize kids who were physically active as "problem children." And surprise surprise, most boys in class were problem children. I am glad that we left for another preschool in the area. Class sizes at Oakton are a bit too big to effectively manage that age group. Staff seemed stretched too thin and low on morale. I don't think they were compensated enough for this tough job.

Hi! I am a mom of 2 kids, one of my kids graduated from…read moreOakton ECE Center and one is currently attending. Like most parents, when it came time to choose a preschool, I was really nervous. I had gone to a couple of open houses and I didn't find what I felt was a good fit until I walked into the classroom at Oakton. I loved it right away! My son seemed to love it right away, too. Mrs. Monique, the director, gave us a tour and everyone was warm and welcoming. I got a sense of integrity, excitement, a strong sense of community as well as diversity in the classroom which were all qualities I was looking for! I also really like it being attached to the college and campus. Since then, my kids have really thrived at Oakton and we have made so many great friends and memories. I can't say enough good things about it! I hope I have more kids so I won't have to say goodbye after my youngest graduates in a year! So glad I discovered such a wonderful Early Childhood Education Center that gave my kids such a fantastic start!

I worked at WMS two years ago for 5 years total and within that time learned and loved the…read moreMontessori Method applied here. From the wee seedlings to the elementary kids, I watched how these children flourished beyond anything else I've ever experienced during all my hours of student teaching at various schools. First off all, the organization behind every aspect of the school comes from the extensive training and education that the school founders have along with their decades of experience. Yes, decades. Everything offered at WMS is all very carefully considered and all the material there is hand-picked by their wonderful teachers and moderated by the head directress. By hand-picked, I mean hundreds of material is considered before being chosen. The material selected all depended on the season, subject, and mastery of each child in mind. This is no easy task. Secondly, the work is all relative. What your child is doing in the infant and toddlers program (from pouring to sorting) will lay a strong foundation for what they will be doing years later in the preschool and elementary program. I cannot stress enough how many times my jaw dropped when I realized how all of the works are so connected. All of the works encourage independence early on so they can master specific work later on. It all comes full circle. Third, the socialization that happens within the walls of the school is inspired by the work itself because the way the work is designed teaches children patience, compassion and empathy. A lot of the work here teaches children how to contribute to their homes and communities in a positive way. It also helps children find their confidence because they realize they can do so many every day things themselves that it sets them up for success academically - from tying their shoes to doing dishes the practical life work is such an essential part of their learning. The teachers have so much patience and love towards their students. It's really beautiful to observe. They develop connections with each individual child and because of the nature of the Montessori applied here, they have the ability to do that as opposed to teaching every child in the same exact way like most traditional schools. While working there it was pretty common for the children to be far more advanced than their friends and family who were in regular public and private schooling. Because of the method, they had the ability to cognitively identify and grasp things much easier in a safe and encouraging environment - all at their own pace. I look back on my time working here with a lot of fondness. As teachers, we took a lot of pride in the work we put into our kids. We provided them with quality education, but above all else a lot of encouragement to explore and play - all important parts of this method. We let our children lead and that is what makes this place so special. They all eventually became leaders in their own right. If you have any questions, reach out and book a tour! They're always really informative and it's a real peace of mind seeing the beautiful space your children will grow in before enrolling them there.

My review will be slightly different from the rest of the reviewers…read more Most of the reviews are from the perspective of parents who have or had children attend here. I will give you the perspective from a former alumni that graduated from here over 2 decades ago. While many of the teachers have come and gone, the leadership has remained steady with the founders since '93. I went to Wonder Montessori in the mid 90s, a few years after they opened, and I can honestly say it was the one of the most important educational experiences of my life. Of course, I did not realize it then, but reflecting back I can clearly point to my experience here to clearly shape the person I am today. Every detail was examined, and every individual considered. I am sure Wonder Montessori's mastery of the montessori method has improved in the years since. I can remember learning to use the computer here, learning about planets and plants and science in general. Singing songs in multiple languages. Even mundane life skills like washing the dishes, oh and of course - I learned to tie my shoes here. Even more importantly social skills on how to properly interact with your peers was developed, and if someone has been wronged we were guided to resolutions, often with apologies to the wronged party. Conflict mediation is an underrated skill. Parents, it is easy to forget how profoundly influential these formative years are for a child. In terms of social development and satisfying their intellectual and creative endeavors - positive and enriching experiences in these areas now will only compound in the years to come. Your children will be more confident, more independent, and more intellectually curious. Characteristics that will hopefully stay with them for the rest of their lives As for myself, what happened to me? While everyone's path in life is different, many years after here I attended an engineering college and studied electrical engineering, achieved moderate success as an entrepreneur and in my other professional endeavors. My final vote of confidence? I will be sending my kids here when they are ready.

Little Scholars is forever embedded in my heart! My son attended this daycare for about 4 years,…read morethe staff has a family dynamic which speaks volumes as they care for the babies/toddlers/ kids in the same way. I will miss having my son attend here he learned so much with the daily activities and made endless friends! They definitely helped me along the way to get my son ready for his next chapter!

Our experience at Little Scholars was amazing and unforgettable. The teachers are the definition…read moreof professional--they are incredibly knowledgeable, yet they bring so much genuine warmth and care to the classroom every single day. Little Scholars it is a true learning environment. My child was constantly exposed to valuable educational experiences that go far beyond basic play. I've been especially impressed with how they balance academics with teaching essential social and daily life skills, helping the children grow into kind, independent individuals. Knowing our child was in such a safe, nurturing, and enriching environment gave us a total peace of mind. Highly recommended!"

Amazing teachers and staff. Kids seem really happy to go to school. Teachers always keep parents in…read morethe loop of what is going on. Any questions you have they will definitely answer you. Safe place for kids.

Skokie Montessori School has been such a gift to our family. Our son started at SMS at age 2.5…read moreafter a rough start at a different program, and we have been so impressed at how smoothly he adapted to the environment here. The care the teachers put into creating and maintaining a peaceful and orderly atmosphere has made all the difference for him. It has been clear from the start that Ms. Jackie, Ms. Adela, and Ms. Kit are incredibly invested in their students and the quality of the program. Our son quickly developed trust in the environment and the adults in the building, and as a result has been able to come out of his shell and find much joy and engagement in the classroom - on the weekends he even asks to go to school! We have watched our son's ability to concentrate deeply, recognize boundaries, and engage in positive social interactions take a big leap since he started attending SMS. At home, he practices many of the independent skills that are reinforced in the classroom: hanging up his clothes and materials, clearing his place at the table, taking initiative to clean up after spills, etc. We consider ourselves so lucky to have found this school and can't recommend it enough.

This school has been instrumental in the development of our kids. For those unfamiliar with the…read moreMontessori way like we were, we are now firm believers that this philosophy has set our children up for success in more ways than just in the classroom. Montessori emphasizes independence and order in a nurturing environment, which is especially essential during ages 2-5 years old. This particular school has a toddler classroom (2-3 year olds), 2 preschool classrooms (3-6 year olds), and an elementary classroom (6-12 year olds). Montessori mixes age groups so the child has the opportunity to be both a student and "teacher" to their peers. This is a unique opportunity unavailable at other daycares, preschools, or public schools. We felt it has challenged our children above their "grade level" by being able to see what older children are doing, and one of the main reasons why they are thriving. It also taught them how to help others in need. One of the misconceptions about Montessori is that children won't be well rounded if they only do what interests them; however, SMS ensures they're exposed to various materials in the classroom. Basically, the teacher caters each student's curriculum differently, while also teaching lessons in small groups. For 3-6 year olds and elementary, there's a progress report at the end of the school year on focus areas like personal development, motor development, work skills, math, language, art, practical life, sensorial, etc. For the toddlers, they are "playing" while learning at the same time. Each Montessori work/material serves a purpose! There are also two parent/teacher conferences each year available for all students. SMS is a small school with a clean, calm, family-feel environment. A hot daily lunch is included in tuition, but they also allow lunch brought from home if your child has a restrictive diet. Their current hours are 7:30 - 5:30, and the pricing differs. The staff is accessible via email and phone, and you can personally speak to the teachers at the end of the day. They do not have an app for pictures or that tracks everything your child does in a day, but the positive side is that the teacher is paying more attention to your child instead of being on a device. Also, they follow a school calendar year (2-week winter break, 1-week spring break, etc), which also allows time for the teachers to get well-deserved breaks as well. In the several years we've been with the school, there have been zero teacher turnover in the main teachers! We toured 5 different daycares, and SMS was the least chaotic, cleanest, and the teachers were the happiest, most patient, and nurturing. Overall, we have nothing but praise for SMS and the teachers!

my son has been to at least 2 other preschools since he was 3 (now 4.5), however this school/agency…read morehas provided the most reasonable accommodations for my family. the staff is beyond incredible- shoutout RM 4!! to the teachers, front end staff, directors & family volunteer's, they all go above and beyond to make your child feel special & welcome. they are quick to respond, give notifications, and involve family in the development of the child. another great addition is the fact that you do not have to pay an arm and leg in order to provide your child with a reasonable education. tuition is based on income & is year around (with some times off, but given reasonable notice) which I find incredibly helpful as a single full time working parent. All in all, my son enjoys going to school daily, looks forward to learning more & I couldn't be more pleased with the staff and quality of education my son is provide. Thank you, two rivers head start agency Aurora. I am entirely grateful

Unprofessional, does not follow protocol. Save yourself the stress and put your child into a…read moredifferent childcare center. Would give it no stars if that were an option.